Willits man arrested for Ukiah robberies

A Willits man was arrested December 27 by Willits police for allegedly committing two Ukiah robberies at gunpoint the evening before.

At age 21, Eric Mario Patino was already well known to Willits police. Within hours of learning Patino was a suspect in two Ukiah armed robberies, Willits police had him in custody. Patino is also being investigated by the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office for a robbery north of Willits.

The Ukiah robbery spree began at 6:30 p.m. December 26 when a 19-year-old skateboarder was stopped at gunpoint on Mason Street near the corner with Norton Street. The robber stopped his car, pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the victim, demanding the victim hand over everything he had. The robber pressed the barrel of the handgun into the man's chest until the victim fell to his knees and handed his backpack over to the robber. When the skateboarder attempted to stand up, a second robber, also waving a pistol, jumped out of the car and threatened to shoot the victim if he got up. The two robbers then sped off, searching for new prey.

On North Bush Street and Empire Drive, the second Ukiah victim was accosted. A 26-year-old woman was walking on North Bush Street. A white car drove past her several times before pulling over. An armed robber hopped out of the car, waving his semiautomatic pistol and demanding "everything she had." When the robber grabbed the victim's purse which was strung on her shoulder, the victim resisted. The robber then bashed the woman in the back of the head with the handgun and took the purse.

The robber then hopped back into the car and sped off, taking the purse containing the woman's cell phone, her money and other possessions.

Ukiah police identified Patino as a potential suspect in the robberies. Patino was also well known to Ukiah police as a "known Sureno gang member."

Patino was arrested in Willits driving a white Mazda sedan. Inside the vehicle detectives recovered stolen property from the Ukiah robberies, methamphetamine and a fake semi-automatic handgun. Other suspects are still at large.

Patino was arrested on suspicion of violating probation, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit a crime, issuing terrorist threats and brandishing a weapon.